Instrument Selection Guide

Start here for a general overview of each SonTek system and where they are best used

Like what you see?

Click on any of the images below to learn more about each SonTek acoustic Doppler instrument. Need more information specific to your unique application? Scroll down a bit more for our side-by-side application comparison chart.

ADP® - Acoustic Doppler Profiler

3D water current profiler

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The SonTek ADP (Acoustic Doppler Profiler) is a high-performance, 3-axis (3D) water current profiler that is accurate, reliable, and easy to use. The ADP uses state-of-the-art transducers and electronics designed to reduce side-lobe interference problems that plague other current profilers. This allows the ADP to make the very near-boundary (surface or bottom) current measurements critical to shallow water applications.

SonTek®-SL Series

water velocity and level in open channels

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Inspired by the need for a SIMPLE way to measure water velocity and level in open channels, the SonTek-SL (affectionately known as the Side-Looker or "SL") has earned worldwide acceptance as a long-term monitoring solution. Now, with two new (3G) models turbo-charged by our proprietary SmartPulseHD®, the SonTek-SL features accessories, mounting options, software, and a variety of integration formats to ensure it fits your application. [View online webinar - Recorded version]

Designed specifically for side mounting on bridges, canal walls, or riverbanks, the SL's SLEEK, low-profile housing makes installation easy. With three models to choose from, the SL can be used in channels as small as you can jump across to rivers as wide as the Amazon. Ultra narrow beam widths combined with unmatched side lobe suppression provide the SUPERIOR acoustic directivity necessary for achieving maximum horizontal range free of interference from surface or bottom boundaries.

Argonaut®-XR

near shore deployments

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The Argonaut-XR offers exceptional value for near shore deployments in less than 40 m of water. Designed specifically for mounting on the bottom of a river, channel, or harbor, the XR features a special mode that automatically adjusts one of its measurement cells for changing water level. Its small size, rugged build, and flexible system architecture make the XR attractive for both real-time operation and autonomous deployments.

CastAway®-CTD

handheld castable CTD

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Designed for coastal profiling, the CastAway-CTD® incorporates a 6-electrode conductivity cell, coupled with a fast response thermistor to provide highly accurate, high resolution CTD measurements to depths of 100 m. Now Integrated with HYPACK!

NOW AVAILABLE: The CastAway-CTD educational curriculum with emphasis on ocean chemistry for use by high school and university level instructors who wish to provide students:

The theory behind SALINITY: why is the ocean salty and how is salinity measured?

What is the Law of Constant Proportions and how does it apply to salinity?

FlowTracker2® Handheld-ADV®

Wading Discharge Measurement

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The FlowTracker2 (FT2) handheld Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV®) has all the technology you have grown to know and trust with the original FlowTracker, but now comes with functional, modernized features (Bluetooth, GPS and large color screen, to name only a few) based on the evaluation and feedback from hydrologists, researchers and scientists who have made the FlowTracker their instrument of choice.

But the real power becomes clear from the moment you start to collect data. Each step of the way FT2 guides you along the measurement process with visual prompts and SmartQC audio alerts just in case something important needs your attention.

FT2 handheld software is intuitive, easy to navigate and includes real-time plots of point data, QC parameters, and measurement verticals, giving you everything you need at-a-glance. Get defensible data correctly, the first time, every time, and minimize data handling back at the office.

With rugged construction for any climate and multiple display options for both day and night, FT2 goes whenever and wherever you need it to go.

HydroSurveyor™

5-beam depth sounding

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INTEGRATED WITH HYPACK® [Learn more] The HydroSurveyor is a system designed to collect bathymetric, water column velocity profile, and acoustic bottom tracking data as part of a hydrographic survey. The two key components of the system are the HydroSurveyor Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP®) platform, and the powerful, yet user-friendly, data collection software. With the HydroSurveyor platform, SonTek is able to offer an exclusive 5-beam depth sounding device, with built-in navigation, full water column velocity (currents) profiling, full compensation for speed of sound (with the CastAway-CTD), and integrated positioning solution.

Manual configuration: Now you can set blanking distance, cell size and number of cells for moving boat measurements.

Real-time QA/QC warnings: Know when there could be a problem before there is one.

Zipped files: New and improved compression and auto-decompression, providing faster access to large amounts of data.

Sample filter: Remove your random velocity outliers with ease!

The patented and award-winning RiverSurveyor®, S5/M9 systems give a new perspective to the notion of measuring open channel hydraulics. Using SonTek's exclusive SmartPulseHD®, multiple acoustic frequencies are fused with precise bandwidth control for the most robust and continuous shallow-to-deep discharge measurements ever. A deterministic microcontroller expertly apportions the proper acoustics, pulse scheme, and cell size to get the highest definition possible so you can focus on the measurement, not the instrument setup. The system even has a vertical beam for precise channel definition and it's all designed to work intuitively.

And just like the name implies - SmartPulseHD (just like your TV) lets you see the clearest velocity picture possible with cell sizes down to 2 cm.

SonTek-IQ® Series

monitor flows in open channels, canals, pipes and culverts

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Ideal for monitoring flows in canals, culverts, pipes, and natural streams, the SonTek-IQ starts with a custom flow algorithm derived from hundreds of field measurements. Four velocity beams profile water velocity along both the length and width of the channel, to ensure best possible coverage and most accurate representation of the velocity field. The built-in pressure sensor and vertical acoustic beam work in tandem to measure water level. Simply input the channel geometry using the intuitive SonTek-IQ software and you are outputting flow data in minutes.

NEW! All stainless steel hardware makes the IQ even more capable in difficult environments such as stormwater and certain wastewater where corrosion is a potential concern.

Guide Me - Products by Application Focus

Whether you are looking to collect flow data in rivers, streams or canals, or you need current profiles in deeper ocean environments, SonTek has an array of instrumentation that can be used in any body of water, at various depths. Here is a side-by-side comparison to help point you in the right direction!

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Support

SonTek - A Xylem Brand

SonTek, advancing environmental science in over 100 countries, manufactures affordable, reliable acoustic Doppler instrumentation for water velocity measurement in oceans, rivers, lakes, canals, harbors, estuaries, and laboratories. Our instruments use sound waves to tell you how fast water is moving, where it is moving, and even if it is not moving at all. Our customers are scientists, engineers, hydrologists, research associates, water resource planners and anyone that needs to collect velocity (speed) data in every kind of body of water imaginable.

SonTek is a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador! The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador initiative is an effort to formally recognize NOAA partners who are improving the nation's readiness against extreme weather, water, and climate events. As a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, SonTek is committed to work with NOAA and other Ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather.